Railway-rail joint.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

Elma M06 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO JERRY E. LYONS, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

RAILWAY-RAIL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed August 24, 1905. Serial No. 275.588-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES W. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Rail Joints;

and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in railway-rail joints.

The object of the invention is to provide a rail-joint in which the necessity of fish-plates or railjoints is obviated and whereby the usual bolt-holes through the ends of the rail are dispensed with,thereby insuringastronger and more rigid joint.

A further object is to provide means whereby the ends of the rail-sections are yieldingly connected, thereby providing for expansion and contraction of the rails, the yielding connection always maintaining a tight joint between the sections of the rail.

A further object is to provide a joint of this character which will be simple, strong, and durable and by the use of which the railsections may be quickly and easily connected.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and ar-v rangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of two rail-sections constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end of one of the rail-sections. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the end of the connecting-section, and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View through the rail-joint.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 denote the meeting ends of two rail-sections. The head 3 of the section 1 is recessed for a short distance from the end of the section, as shown at 4. Below the recessed head 3 of the rail-section 1 and in the web 5 of the rail is formed a vertically-disposed mortise 6, the web 5 of the rail being enlarged at this point to permit the formation of the mortise 6. On the opposite sides of the en:

larged end of the web 5 and at the inner edge of said enlargement are formed laterally-projecting apertured lugs or ears 7.

The end of the rail 2 is formed with an extended head portion 8, which projects a suitable distance beyond the end of the rail, as shown. Below the extended head portion 8 of the rail and formed integral with said head and the rail end is a tenon 9. On the opposite sides ofthe rail, adjacent to the end thereof, are formed laterally-projecting ribs 10, on which are formed laterally-projecting aper tured ears or lugs 12.

In connecting the ends of the rail-sections together the tenon 9 and the extended head 8 of the section 2 are inserted into the mortise 6 and the recess 4 on the rail-section 1. After the ends of the sections have been thus engaged bolts 13 are passed through the apertured ears or lugs 7 and 12 on the ends of the rail-sections 1 and 2, and on the threaded ends of said bolts are screwed clampingnuts 14:.

In order that a yielding connection may be provided between the ends of the rail-sections to permit of the expansion and contraction of the metal forming the same, coiled springs 15 are arranged on the bolts 13 between the nuts 14 and the adjacent ears or lugs 12, the tension of the springs being exerted to securely hold the parts of the joint in place and also provided for the movement of the same due to the contraction and expansion of the rails.

' By the use of joints such as herein shown and described the perforations of the rails and the necessity of fish-plates may be dispensed with, said rails being spiked to the ties in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail-joint, the combination with the meeting ends of two rail-sections, of means whereby said ends are interlockingly engaged with each other and means whereby the same are yieldinglysecured together, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with the meeting ends of two rail-sections, one of which Y ends is provided with a mortise, a tenon formed holding said sections together, substantially as described.

4. In a rail-joint, the combination with the meeting ends of two rail-sections, one of which ends is provided with a recessed head and an enlarged mortised web, a tenon formed on the extended head of the connecting rail-section to engage said mortise, apertured ears or lugs formed on each side of said rail-sections adjacent to the ends of the same, securing-bolts adapted to be projected through said apertured ears or lugs, and means whereby said bolts are adapted to yieldingly hold said ends of the sections together, substantially as described.

5. In a rail-joint, the combination with the meeting ends of two rail-sections, one of which ends is provided with a recessed head, and an enlarged mortised web, a tenon formed on the extended head of the connecting rail-section to engage said mortise, apertured ears or lugs formed on each side of said rail-sections adjacent to the ends of the same, securing-bolts adapted to be projected through said apertured ears or lugs, clamping-nuts adapted to be screwed on said bolts, and springs arranged on said bolts between said nuts and the adjacent apertured lugs or ears, substantially as described.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. WALKER. Witnesses:

FRANK E. BIGNORE, T. S. LYONS. 

